Overview
- The Department for Transport published the draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement on Thursday and launched a ten-week public consultation to guide developer bids and planning submissions.
- Ministers set four statutory tests for any scheme: a credible UK‑wide economic case, compatibility with legally binding climate targets, no new legal air quality breaches, and no increase in noise above 2024 levels.
- The planning documents accept phased delivery to meet timescales, keeping both Heathrow Airport Limited’s 3,500m runway (which would require moving the M25) and Heathrow West/Arora’s shorter 2,800m phased option in play.
- The government and airport backers say expansion could be privately funded, cost about £33 billion, create more than 60,000 jobs and deliver up to about £40–42 billion of economic benefits, while critics warn it risks breaching climate goals and worsening local pollution and noise.
- Next steps include the end of the consultation in ten weeks, detailed developer proposals under the HENPS criteria, a targeted final planning decision in 2029 and ministers’ aim to start work in this Parliament with operation around 2035.